Signal device for automobiles



L. L. SCHMIDT, T. W. BEUCHEL, AND P. C. OTWELL.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUYOMOBILES.

APPLICATiON FILED JAN. 19, 1922.

l ,%30,264, Patented Sept. 26, 1922;

ENVENTORS Patented Sept. 26, 1922 I 1,430,254 PATENT OFFICE...

LEONARD L. SCHMIDflf, THEODORE w. BEIJ'CHEL, AND PERCY c. o'rwELI or BELLE- VILLE', ILLINOIS.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed January 19, ,1922. Serial No. 530,331.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that we, LEONARD L. SCHMIDT, THEODORE W. BEUCHEL, and PERCY C. O'rwELL, citizens of the United States of America,'residing at the city of Belleville,

county of St. Clair, State of Illinois, United States of America, have invented a certain new and useful Signal Device for Automobiles, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a signal device for automobiles. One of the objects of our invention is to provide a device of the class referred to which will be simple and rigid in construction and easily manufactured. Another object of our invention is to so con: struct the device that it will be practically weather-proof and at the same time to 'so construct it that access may be had to the .interior with reasonable ease for renewing the light bulbs or any other purpose.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of device made in accordance with our invention, Figure 1. is an end elevation, Figure 2 is a side elevation. Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

The casing feature or device is formed of an upper part 5 and a lower part 6 both preferably stamped from sheet metal. Each of the parts 5 and 6 has formed adjacent to each edge a head 7 for providing a groove to receive the end plates which will be hereinafter described. The upper part 5 of the casing is provided with a pair of lugs 8 preferably formed integral therewith .and the lower part 6 with a pair of lugs 9 secured to the said part by spot welding or any other suitable manner. Owing to this construction, the two parts of the casing telescope for a short distance, the upper part 5 being brought outside of the part 6 so as to form a joint which will exclude rain. The lugs 8 and 9 are connected by means of bolts 10.

The device is provided with a pair of end plates 11 seated in the grooves formed by the beads 7. These end plates 11 may be made of glass or any other sufficiently rigid transparent or translucent rnaterial, In the claims addition to the lettering of the stencil plates 11, one of these plates is provided with an opening 13 preferably circular in form for providing a tail light and the other with a similar opening 14 for providing a parklng light. The lettering of the different signals is separated by means; of partition walls spot welded or otherwise secured to the casing. These partition walls consist of two horizontal parts 15 and 16 respectively and a vertical part 17 extending between the wall 16 and the lower part of the casing 6. The end of the partition 16 is bentso as to form a pocket 18 and the lower end of the part-ition1'7 is bent to form a similar pocket 19, between the pockets 18 and 19. The lower part 6 of the casing is provided with an opening or window 20 to provide light for the license plate. This opening 20 is covered by a curved sheet of transparent material 21 such as glass or celluloid, this sheet 21 being held in position in the pockets 18 and 19. 22 are the light bulbs which are positioned. as shown in Figure 3, the wires 23 of the casing and extending to any suitable control mechanism not shown. evident that our device is very simple and easy to manufacture and at the same time is rigid and is practically weather-proof.

When it is desired to secure access to the interior of the device to renew the bulbs 22 orfor any other purpose, the bolts 10 are removed, theupper part of the casing lifted off and the end plates 11, together with their super-imposed plates removed when access to all parts of the device is readily obtained.

The particular form of our device which we have shown in the drawing is intended to be supported upon the rear left mud guard of the vehicleby any suitable bracket which is not shown in the drawings as it forms no part of the present invention. It will It will be third signal seen that when supported in this position, the device furnishes a signal both to the front and rear of the vehicle and at the same time provides not only a tail light and parking light but also a light for illuminating the license plate. j

Having fully described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a two part casing, each part of said casing being provided with a partition forming a signal compartment, the space between the partitions forming-a third signal compartment a pair of plates of diaphanous material for displaying signs, said plates being held in position by the assembling of the parts of the casing, and means for illuminating said compartments.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a two part casing, each part of said casing being provided with a partition forming a signal compartment, a space between said partitions forming a third signal compartment, a partition extending between one of said first named partitions, and an adjacent casing wall to form an illuminating compartment, diaph= anous end plates for displaying signs, and means for illuminating said compartments.

,3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a two part casing, each part of said casing being provided with a partition forming a signal compartment, a space between said partitions forming a compartment, a partition ex- 1 ,aaoaea tending between one of said first named and an adjacent casing wall to form an illuminating compartment, diaph anous end plates for displaying, signs and means for illuminating said compartments, said illuminating compartment having a light passage through each of said end plates, and an intermediate light passage throu h the casing wall.

4. l ii a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a removable end plate for said casing, partition walls carried by said casing. the walls being arranged to provide a pair of pockets at their junction with the casing, an opening in said casing between said pockets for illuminating a license plate, and a transparent covering for said opening held in said pockets.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a removable end plate for said casing, partition walls carried by said casing, the walls being arranged to provide a pair of pockets at the junctions of the casing, one of said pockets being arranged at each side of one of the lower corners of the casing, an opening in said casing between said projections for illuminating a license plate, and a transparent covering for said opening held in said pockets.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and aiiixed our seals.

LEONARD L. SCHMIDT. a 5. 'rnnononn w. snnonnn a s.] rnnor o. orwnnn [n s] partitions, 

